Complementary & Alternative Health

25/09/2025

Difference between Labral Tear vs Shoulder Impingement 🤔

A Labral Tear is damage to the fibro cartilage rim of the shoulder socket, often causing pain, popping and feelings of instability. While shoulder impingement occurs when the rotator cuff tendons or bursa becomes pinched between the upper arm bone and the shoulder blade, leading to pain with overhead activity, stiffness and tenderness, while both conditions involve shoulder pain, a labral tear is a structural injury to the cartilage ring itself.

Whereas impingement involves compression and inflammation of the soft tissues within the joint.

SHOULDER IMPINGEMENT:
Occurs when the rotator cuff tendons, primarily the supraspinatus tendon is pinched between the humerus, subacranial bursa and the acramian.

Types of shoulder impingement Subacranial Impingement - in this form, a tendon or bursa (not both) may become compressed in the subacranial space between the roof.

Subcoracoid Impingement - where the subscapularis tendon of the rotator cuff tendons becomes pinched.

Internal Shoulder Impingement - usually the supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus tendon of the rotator cuff is pinched between the ball and back of the shoulder socket.

LABRAL TEAR:
A shoulder labral tear is an injury to the cartilage in the shoulder joint. The labrum is a ring of firm tissue that surrounds and cushions the shoulder. It contributes to shoulder stability and, when torn, can lead to partial or complete shoulder dislocation.

The labrum is susceptible to injury with trauma to the shoulder joint. It also becomes more brittle with age. Types include SLAP (superior labrum anterior and posterior tears), bankart tears and posterior labral tears.

SYMPTOMS:
Shoulder Impingement symptoms are shoulder pain, stiffness, tenderness to the touch and/or weakness. Pain may be sharp and localized or dull and diffuse (especially while lying down). The location of the pain will depend on which type of impingement is present.

Labral Tear symptoms depends on on where the tear is located. You may feel an aching sensation in the shoulder joint, shoulder weakness or instability. Sometimes the tear may not cause any pain.

TREATMENT:
Treatment depends on the type and severity of the injury. The aim of treatment focuses on improving joint stability and strength, reduce pain and inflammation, improve joint alignment, manual soft tissue therapy and strengthening excercises.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

24/09/2025

Difference between ACL Tear vs Meniscus Tear 🤔

An ACL tear involves the anterior cruciate ligament and is primarily characterized by a feeling of knee instability, the knee giving away, rapid swelling and a loud popping sound.

In contrast, a meniscus tear affects the knee's cartilage, often causing a mechanical issue like knee locking, catching pain along the joint line and swelling that may develop more slowly. The knee is a complicated joint with many moving parts, making it strong but vulnerable to injury. The ACL and meniscus play important roles in how the knee works.

ACL TEAR:
This ligament (or band of tissues) connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia). The role of the ACL is to stabilize the knee during quick directional changes and keep it from moving too far forward. Imagine an intense game of soccer or rugby.

You're running full speed, you make a sharp pivot to dodge an opponent and suddenly you feel a painful pop in the knee. This kind of quick, twisting motion can strain or tear the ACL.

MENISCUS TEAR:
The meniscus is a C-shaped cartilage piece that cushions between the femur and tibia. There are 2 menisci's in each knee, one on the inside (medial) and one on the outside (lateral).

The meniscus absorbs shock and stabilizes the knee, which helps prevent wear and tear over time. Meniscus tears occurs when a person twists their upper leg, while the foot is planted and the knee is bent. These are called traumatic tears and happens during sudden movements.

SYMPTOMS:
Although an ACL and meniscus tear usually happens individually, they can also happen at the same time. Signs and symptoms of both can overlap but there are some differences.

ACL Tear Symptoms, if teared, you may immediately feel a popping sensation and the knee may give out. Pain ans swelling usually sets in quickly.

Meniscus Tear Symptoms may or may not cause immediate pain. Swelling usually develops gradually. Pain with twisting and squatting and possibly a locking sensation, and the knee may give out. Pain ans swelling usually sets in quickly.

Meniscus Tear Symptoms may or may not cause immediate pain. Swelling usually develops gradually. Pain with twisting and squatting and possibly a locking sensation, where the knee feels stuck and fully straightened or bend.

TREATMENT:
Treatment plan depends on the tear's severity, activity level and age. Physical therapy for regaining strength and mobility. Main goal of treatment is to restore stability to the knee, reducing pain and inflammation and restore range of motion.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

22/09/2025

Have you ever wondered what a muscle is? Let's look deeper into the muscle 🤔

What we call "muscle" isn't just muscle tissue. It's actually what we call a "myofascial unit". A myofascial unit isn't just contractile tissue pulling on tendons. It's the "unit" of extensively inner connected tissues and systems that include muscle fibers and the motor units driving movement.

The fascia that wraps and connects them. Nerves that both activate contraction and sense position in time and space. Blood and lymphatic vessels feeding the area. The surrounding ligaments, tendons and proprioceptors at the joints.

This means that when you move you're not just pulling on bones through tendons. You're transmitting force through fascia into a whole-body network. This is why whole-body approaches to muscle treatments and training are more effective than isolated ones.

When we're working with "muscle tissue", we're actually interacting with fascia, nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and sensory receptors that are dynamically interconnected with most other body systems.

Only 70% of muscle fibers are attached to tendons. The other 30% attaches to fascia instead. This means 30% of applied force doesn't move through tendons at all. It travels through the fascial web, connecting your entire body.

Example, when you squeeze your glutes (such as during walking), force travels through your fascia to the shoulder on the opposite site.

This explains why we sometimes feel pain in unexpected places, especially when we're compensating for limitations or injuries 👍😉

19/09/2025

Let's explain the difference between Spondylolysis, Spondylolisthesis, Spondylosis and Spondylitis 🤔

SPONDYLOLYSIS:
Is a weakness or stress fracture in one of the vertebrae. The small bones that makes up the spinal column. A stress fracture can occur in adolescents who participate in sports that involve repeated stress on the lower back, such as gymnastics, football and weightlifting.

In some cases, the stress fracture weakens the bone so much that it is unable to maintain its proper position in the spine and the vertebrae starts to shift or slip out of place. This is called spondylolisthesis.

SPONDYLOLISTHESIS:
Here, the fractured pars interarticularis separates, allowing the injured vertebrae to shift or slip forward on the vertebrae directly below it. In children, this slippage most often occurs during periods of rapid growth. It's often described as low grade or high grade, depending upon the amount of slippage.

A high grade slip occurs when more than 50% of the width of the fractured vertebrae slips forward on the vertebrae below it. Symptoms usually feels similar to a muscle strain.

SPONDYLOSIS:
Spondylosis at the L4-L5 spinal segment involves age-related wear and tear of the disc's and joints in that area, often leading to spinal instability, which can cause low back pain, leg pain (sciatica) muscle spasms and in severe cases leg weakness as well as bowel/bladder dysfunction.

Spondylosis is a general term for spinal degeneration, changes in the facet joints and intervertebral discs.

SPONDYLITIS:
Is an umbrella term for a group of chronic arthritis type diseases, affecting the joints of the spine and sacroiliac region. The sacroiliac region includes the pelvis and lower spine. Spondylitis and Spondylosis are similar conditions that can both cause hip and back pain.

Spondylitis has one difference, its a condition in which the immune system attacks the joints causing inflammation, bone fusion and excess bone formation.

TREATMENT:
Treatment depends on the type and severity of the Spondy. The aim of treatment is to reduce pain and inflammation and restore mobility. Different mobilizing techniques are used, nerve stimulation, ultrasonic therapy as well as muscle strengthening excercises.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

17/09/2025

Difference between a Bulging Disc vs Herniated Disk 🤔

A Bulging Disc is a general outward extension of the disc's outer layer without a tear or rupture, while a Herniated Disc involves a tear in the outer layer through which the inner, gel-like material protruded into the spinal canal, potentially irritating nerve roots.

A herniated disc generally protruded further and is more likely to cause pain than a bulging disc.

Discs act as cushions between the bones that form the spine. These bones are called vertebrae. Discs have an outer layer of tough cartilage that surrounds softer cartilage in the center. Discs show signs of wear and tear with age. Over time, discs become less flexible. These changes can cause the outer layer of the disc to bulge out. A bulging disc doesn't affect the entire disc, only the outer layer of tough cartilage is involved.

A Herniated Disk, results when a crack in the tough outer layer of cartilage allows some of the softer inner cartilage to stick out of the disc, herniated discs or slipped disc. The whole disk does not rupture or slip. Only the small area of the crack is affected.

Compared with a bulging disc, a herniated disc is more likely to cause pain. The inner cartilage of the disc sticks out further and is more likely to irritate nerve roots. The irritation can be from pushing on the nerve or the herniation causes pain and inflammation of the nerve roots.

SYMPTOMS OF BOTH:
Bulging Disc may cause symptoms like back or leg pain, but it's often asymptomatic, especially if it does not compress a nerve. Often caused as a result of age-related wear and tear, it's a common sign of early degenerative disc disease.

Herniated Disc symptoms is more likely to cause severe pain, numbness or tingling due to the displaced disc material directly irritating nearby nerve roots. Can be caused by trauma, improper lifting or progression from a bulging disc.

TREATMENT:
Treatment goal is to reduce pain and inflammation, improve function, spine mobilization, nerve root stimulus, improve mobility, enhanced Stability and prevent recurrence.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

16/09/2025

The ABCDE Emergency Assessment.

The ABCDE method is a systematic, stepwise assessment used in emergencies and general clinical practice. Learn this method in case of emergency 👉

A - AIRWAY: Check if the airway is open eg speaking, crying, coughing ect. Look for obstruction, stridor, chocking, gurgling or foreign body. Actions - perform the head/chin tilt or jaw thrust maneuvere.

The Jaw Thrust is a maneuver used to open the airway of a patient with a suspected head, neck or spine injury, while a Chin Lift (head tilt) is used for a patient without such injuries.

The Jaw Trust is performed by placing fingers under the angle of the jaw and lifting it forward to move the tongue away from the back of the throat, while the head chin tilt involves tilting the head back and lifting the chin to achieve the same result.

B - BREATHING: Look for chest rise, respiratory effect, accessory muscle use, cyanosis. Listen to breath sounds (wheeze, crackles, absent) rate and depth.

Feel for chest expansion (the movement of the chest when breathes), or tracheal position. Tracheal position (midline or deviated) is a physical sign assessed during a chest examination, a tracheal deviation or asymmetric chest movement can signal underlying respiratory disease such as a collapsed lung.

C - CIRCULATION: Check pulse rate, rhythm, quality (central and peripheral). Skin colour, temperature and moisture - to check circulation and shock, look for paleness, bluish skin or yellowish skin, comparing it to the patient's normal baseline if possible.

Check if the skin is warm or cold. For babies and dark skin patients, also check membranes and nail beds. Look for bleeding, signs of shock (pale, cold, clammy, low BP, tachycardia).

D - DISABILITY (NEUROLOGICAL STATUS):
AVPU scale - alert, responds to voice and/or pain, unresponsiveness. Check pupils, size, equality and reaction to light.

Glasgow Coma Scale (Gcs) - if detailed assessment is needed, Gcs is a tool used to assess a patient's level of consciousness and brain injury by scoring their eye opening, verbal and motor responses with a total score ranging from 3 to 15. The scores for eye, verbal and motor responses are added together. 3-8 severe brain injury, 9-12 moderate brain injury, 13-15 mild brain injury.

E - EXPOSURE/ENVIRONMENT:
Fully expose patient, check for rashes, bleeding, trauma and medical alerts. Maintain dignity and prevent hypothermia (blankets, warm fluids ect). Look for lines, drains, wounds, hidden injuries.

REMEMBER reassess after each intervention. Document clearly (your action in order to explain to medical personnel). Call for help early if unstable 👍😉

15/09/2025

How often do you sit? Is your leg, butt and low back hurting? It might be a Nerve Adhesion 🤔

You probably have adhesion built up on top of that nerve, adding pressure and tightness due to sitting for too long. Nerve adhesion pain in the buttocks and low back often experienced as part of conditions like sciatica or nerve entrapment, occurs when scar tissue forms around the sciatic nerve limiting its normal movement and causing stretching and pain.

This happens due to past stress, overuse or imbalance, leading to tingling, numbness and radiating pain from the low back through the buttocks down the leg.

A nerve adhesion is essentially scar tissue that forms from fibrous connective tissue, effectively "gluing" a nerve to the surrounding muscle or connective tissue. This happens when the body develops this internal scar tissue due to repetitive stress, overuse or imbalances.

The adhesion acts like a physical tether, limiting the nerve's normal ability to glide and move with the body's actions.

This restricted movement causes the nerve to be stretched when you move, which irritates and inflames the nerve. The irritation and inflammation manifest as pain, tingling or numbness in the affected areas. Common conditions involving nerve adhesions is: Sciatica - often caused by a herniated disc or bone spur, but also by other factors that put pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Nerve Entrapment - can develop due to adhesions forming around the sciatic nerve, leading to pain and discomfort. Arachnoiditis - a rare condition where the membrane protecting spinal nerves become inflamed, leading to scarring and nerve adhesion.

CAUSES OF NERVE ADHESION:
Trauma or Injury - a significant injury, like a large cut, can cause scar tissue to form and restrict nerves. Repetitive Use/Overuse - activities involving repetitive movements or prolonged poor posture can lead to tight, inflexible tissues and adhesions. Inflammation - conditions that cause inflammation in the body can also increase the increase the risk of adhesion formation.

SYMPTOMS:
Symptoms include pain, that are located to the affected nerve or radiate to other areas. Sensory Disturbances - you may experience numbness, tingling or a "pins and needles" sensation. Muscle Weakness - restricted nerves can lead to weakness in the connected muscles.

Reduced Mobility and Stiffness - the tethered nerve disrupts the full range of motion, causing stiffness and reduced flexibility.

TREATMENT:
Treatment include manual therapy and soft tissue mobilization in order to break down adhesions and restore nerve gliding. Specific stretches are used to improve the nerve's movement and flexibility in the surrounding tissues.

Treatment available, contact me for more info 👍😉

13/09/2025

11/09/2025

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET A TOATOO?

Macrophages, the specialized immune cells known as big eaters, are key to a tatoo's permanence. Acting as the body's cleanup crew, they engulf tattoo ink particles that the body can't fully break down.

When an ink-filled macrophage reaches the end of its life, it's neighbour's simply consume the dead cell, recycling the pigment and keeping it locked in the skin.

This continuous cycle of renewal and recapture is why your tattoo stays put over the years.

10/09/2025

Don't forget about our anti-pain ointment for all pain conditions. 😉

10/09/2025

What treatments do we offer?

All chronic and acute pain conditions, sinus drainage, headache and migraine, sports injuries, elderly fall prevention, elderly pain conditions, spine alignment, foot alignment, hip/pelvis alignment, stroke rehabilitation, Parkinson's Disease rehabilitation, all nerve conditions, sports enhancement cupping, neuro cupping, jaw alignment and pain conditions, post surgery rehabilitation, lung diseases ect.

You are welcome to contact me for more information 076 768 4948 whatsup 👍😉